News: Minerva Gallery opens in Rotherham town centre

Minerva Gallery, the recently opened latest addition to the "arts hub" in the Imperial Buildings in Rotherham town centre, is celebrating with a launch event on May 1.

Locally based artist and fine art graduate, Eve Flanagan opened The Minerva Gallery on April 3 and has been delighted by the positive responses to the gallery and to the concept of an "arts hub" in Imperial Buildings.


Local artists have taken up residence in units in and surrounding the internal central kiosk to offer a range of contemporary fine art and fine craft including textiles, jewellery, hand made books, painting and photography.

Eve said: "As a fine art graduate, there are relatively few jobs within the arts industry and all are highly competitive. After meeting with Karen Sherwood, Chief Executive of ROAR who opened her own gallery at the height of a recession in the face of enormous negativity and survived, I decided I might as well follow my passion and open an art gallery myself.

"The decision to open in Rotherham town centre was brought about due to the opportunity that presented itself at Imperial Buildings and the fact that there is nothing like it here.

"I dont want to be or stay in a place lacking in cultural presence and activity. I wished there was something like this when I was growing up here, so have decided to create something for others who may feel the same way."

Minerva Gallery is a relatively small space that is split over two rooms. Minerva shows high quality Fine Arts and Crafts sourced from across Yorkshire at a varied price range.

The Gallery has a high turnover of pieces in order to ensure it always has new, exciting, provocative and pretty objects of art on sale. Showing this week and at the launch event will be a number of artists including Lyn Hodnett, John Flanagan, Elenya Biney, James Kowacz, Matt Thomas and Jennifer Hunter.

Minerva Gallery opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm and the launch event will include music by Sheffield talent Bex Marshall and others and a workshop run by Gemma Nemer in The Button Tin.

Karen Sherwood, Chief Executive of ROAR added: "For anyone who enjoys art and creativity I would encourage you to come to the launch and support Minerva and the Arts Hub. A beautiful space filled with creative people doing something different. A wonderful new offer for Rotherham town centre."

ROAR website
Imperial Buildings website

Images: rotherhamroar.org